Eddie Vedder-Live In NYC June 22, 2011

Quite a second night in New York – shorter set but no less intense. Unexpected musical guests – Danny Clinch – on harmonica, actor Edward Norton on guitar. Here’s what we’ve unearthed about the evening – master post, updated as we find more.

My 90th show overall, 12th solo Ed show and was there last night so have some perspective when i say the show was INCREDIBLE. Ed was very chatty. told story behind how he wrote Unthought Known. Immortality sounded incredible, Ed Norton did not. Though was very cool to see him on stage. One of the Olsen girls was there both nights. Seen her at a few NYC PJ shows over the years. Respek. Clearly bothered by Clarence’s passing as he’s mentioned at both shows and in Hartford when the Big Man passed. I’m from Freehold, so I’m in grief like Ed, but the music coming from it and the story about Bruce reacting to Ed making a Ukelele album saying, “it takes balls” was hillarious. his story last night about Clarence’s White Suit glowing and then long road was powerful. Ed slowed down Lukin. Heard it like that twice before. Really gorgeous when slow. Porch was great tonigth, but insane last night. after having heard some of the new songs 3x live they are really starting to click for me and the fans and they really are beautiful songs. While into the wild featured a ukele as well, those songs are so dark compared to these which are all about love happiness. nice contrast.

Also nice to see is Ed’s guitar skills. they have gotten so much better over the past 20 years. he had true mastery of it tonight in all forms. McCready would be proud.

Last night the crowd stood for 2-3 songs total. tonight the crowd was on their feet 3/4 of the show. much more energy in the bldg. ed was feeling it and was apparently pretty banged up but he truly sounded great.

From Suziemay:

“Uke’s got balls!” was so cute! My memory is going to fail me, but I believe he had started talking about Springsteen hearing about Ed’s uke album and then he thanks the crowd for our support for the album, mentioning that it got to #4 on the Billboard charts and the only reason that pleases him is it shows that the uke’s got balls! And then he kinda makes the uke dance around on his lap, like the uke was thanking us.

Then the part about having bad hearing and how he doesn’t hear anything the crowd yells and segways into thanking the crowd for being “good” which to me implies that yesterday’s crowd was really as noisy as I thought it was!! He said it’s one thing to pay a bunch of money to come yell at a stranger, it’s an entirely different thing for the neighbour who doesn’t have any say in this said noisy person yelling.

Oh, so last night he said he would have “climbed the fuck” out of the Beacon. Well, tonight he described in gory detail how he would have actually executed on this.

There were a few more stories that I’m not going to be able to describe in detail (writing Unthought Known in NYC after the 2nd United Palace show in his hotel room, Mike McCready wearing ear plugs because he plays the guitar so loud – I think that was part of the hard of hearing story…)

And then there were the songs! Highlights for me were Off He Goes, Longing to Belong (FINALLY!), Immortality, Guaranteed with Ed Norton (hey, Ed and Ed! I just got that ), backing Glen Hansard on Falling Slowly (this was pretty spectacular – I would give my first born and throw in some diapers for a recording of this!!) and Open All Night with Danny Clinch. Ed Norton was so cute, he seemed a little nervous or unsure about his abilities and the crowd cheered him on.

Glen’s set was pretty amazing too, and he got into some story-telling of his own (about getting phone calls from Ed)

A compilation of Jess’s TFTweets from the night, (expanded where appropriate):

-Hansard told a great tale of EV’s daily calls after his own concert tragedy & ensuing collaboration (Jess is referring to a horrible fan death at an intimate local show in my backyard, where a man chose a Swell Season show to commit suicide. Read about it here)

-”Broken Heart” prefaced by story about how he’s feeling great unlike when he wrote thay song.

-”More Than You Know” preceded by plan of how to climb the walls & swing on a mic cord like spiderman on the cheap

-”Longing To Belong” comes after story of Springsteen telling Clinch it takes balls to make an all uke record. #4 on charts & Ed thought; ukes got balls!

-Slow “Lukin” – with strings and new lyrics!

-You would not be shocked how loud the cheers got when Ed talks about playing with”that” band for 20yrs

The poster, entitled “A Pretty Little Vision of Peace” is by Jermaine Rogers, last night’s poster design co-collaborator. It’s a take on the legendary photo of John Lennon, shot by Bob Gruen in 1974. Image courtesy Inside The Rock Poster Frame.

A Bay-Area based entrepreneur, co-editor Kathy conceives and writes her share of TFT’s articles and sections. She was co-editor/co-founder of one of the first Pearl Jam fanzines "Footsteps" (1992-1997). Kathy’s first Pearl Jam show was at the Bridge School Benefit on November 1, 1992.

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Two Feet Thick is Pearl Jam website created by fans Kathy Davis, Jessica Letkemann and John Reynolds. Since May 2003, Two Feet Thick has presented original articles on Pearl Jam's music and history, including the Pearl Jam Concert Chronology.